Case Study: Schaeffler achieves zero invoice errors and seamless China-to-global e-invoicing with Tradeshift

Why Schaeffler Group Chose Tradeshift to Address E-invoicing Complexity in China

Schaeffler Group, a global manufacturer of precision components, faced a heavy administrative burden from China’s complex, paper‑centric fapiao system—processing over 225,000 Chinese invoices in 2021—and needed to move beyond OCR scanning to a fully digital, cross‑border e‑invoicing process that would integrate with its global SAP workflows and comply with local data rules.

By partnering with Tradeshift (with China compliance via Baiwang), Schaeffler deployed Tradeshift Pay and bridged its China‑hosted platform to the global Tradeshift Network, enabling fully digital, tax‑validated fapiao delivery directly into its workflow. The solution eliminated OCR dependence, cut VAT verification errors from 7.4% to zero, stored compliant records for 20 years, supported the first cross‑border SVAT e‑invoice in early 2022, and freed AP resources while future‑proofing its supply‑chain invoicing.

Schaeffler

Michael Hofmann

Project Manager